Vacuum-horseshoe.



J. M. DOVE.

VACUUM HORSESHOE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 14. 1912.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

flit ET JAMES M. DOVE, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES P.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRYZDEN, or

VACUUM-HORSESHOE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

Application filed October 14, 1912'. Serial No. 725,649.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMEs M. Dovn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum- Horseshoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Net asphalt pavements and in some instances stone pavements afford very insecure footing for horses. Many efforts have been made in the past to so construct a horseshoe as to enable horses to be driven on such streets in safety. Notwithstanding this, no wholly satisfactory shoe has heretofore been devised and many horses are injured annually as a result. To assist in obviating injury to the horses feet due to the hardness of the pavement, hoof pads have come into general use and these are usually installed in connection with some form of steel shoe, upon which the main reliance is placed to prevent slipping.

The object of this invention is to afford a hoof pad adapted for use with any convenient or suitable shoe, and so constructed as to afford positive suction upon the pavement.

It is an object of the invention to afford a resilient hoof pad having a concavity there in acting as a vacuum cup when pressed upon the pavement, and acting by suction to prevent slipping.

It is an object of the invention to afford a resilient hoof pad having a concavity therein approximately beneath the frog of the foot when the shoe is applied, and which acts by atmospheric pressure to resist slipping upon the pavement.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings: Figure l is a bottom plan view of the hoof pad, showing the shoe removed. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings: The hoof pad may be of conventional shape, and is constructed in part of layers of canvas 1, which are vulcanized together and adapted to lie next the hoof, and on which is vulcanized a thick heel cushion 2, of rubber, which extends for the entire width of the shoe and forwardly to protect the heels. The sides and forward portions of the pad are relatively thin to receive the metal shoe 3, thereon, as. usual, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. The relatively thick heel pad ex tends forwardly for a short distance within the shoe forming a narrow projecting portion and forms a part of the frog and said rubber heel cushion or pad, and said forwardly extending portions thereof are molded to afford a downwardly opening concavity or recess A, of relatively large size. As shown, said concavity or recess lies substantially at the middle of the heel pad and somewhat at the rear of the center of the shoe, or approximately in line with the greatest pressure exerted by the horses foot when applied-to the pavement. The under surface of said heel cushion is plane to afford a relatively broad surface about said recess, and an effective seal upon the damp pavement when applied thereto.

The operation is thought to be obvious from the construction described.

When the weight is applied upon the pad, the consequent compression expels a portion of the air from said recess so that slipping on the pavement is to a considerable degree obviated, atmospheric pressure serving to hold the pad from movement until the foot is lifted by the horse. On dry pavement slighter suction results, but sufficient adhesion is afforded to insure safe footing.

Details of the construction may be varied, and of course the suction concavity may be arranged where desired on the pad, and, if preferred, forward of the center of the shoe or at any point in the pad where the same may be found useful or convenient. I have shown but a preferred form of my invention, and therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted thereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art. I claim as my invention:

An article of the character described,

comprising a rubber pad having a thick heel.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES M. DOVE.

between the ends of the shoe, said thick heel cushion and its projecting narrow portion having a single suction recess formed therein Which forms a relatively large clownwardly opening cavity below the frog only of the foot anclprotects said frog from undue pressure.

Witnesses CHARLES WV. HILLS, J12, GEORGE E. Blooms.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

